Growing up in Seneca, Missouri, the Seneca-Cayuga Nation has been, and continues to be, a formative presence in Erica Tremblay’s life. Her mother, Sharon Winnie, served many years on the Business Committee and raised Erica and her sister, August Tremblay, with a great sense of pride in the Seneca-Cayuga Nation. Erica grew up watching Seneca-Cayuga citizens lead and care for their community. 

As an adult, Tremblay worked in the media industry in both New York and Los Angeles, but her interest in discovering and sharing Indigenous stories proved to be the most energizing part of her day. This avenue provided a sense of connection to her Indigenous roots while she was so far from family and Seneca-Cayuga cultural events. Erica decided to take a risk in order to pursue this interest full time. She began writing and entered an immersive language program in Canada in order to learn the Cayuga language.

Erica’s investment in her passion projects have paid off. Erica was selected to take part in the Sundance Institute's Native Filmaker’s Lab and her most recent short film, Little Chief, premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. 

For Erica, Little Chief is more than just a film, it has been an opportunity to invest in Indigenous people. Tremblay views the film as a love letter to her mother, a former teacher at the Turkey Ford school where Little Chief was filmed. Tremblay was able to collaborate with Seneca-Cayuga Nation’s Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, William Tarrant, and cast Seneca-Cayuga students in the film. The opportunity to be a part of the production provided these students an exciting experience. While filming, Erica sought teachable moments to educate and engage the students in the filmmaking process and in return was inspired by the bright and charming Seneca-Cayuga children. 

Fans of Little Chief will be excited to learn that Tremblay hopes to begin filming her feature length film, Fancy Dance, in 2021. Fancy Dance is one of 12 films accepted into the Sundance Screenwriter Lab. It is the fictional story of a missing Seneca-Cayuga woman and the journey her sister and daughter take in her absence. Thirty percent of Fancy Dance will be in the Cayuga language and Tremblay is excited to return to film on Seneca-Cayuga land. 

The Seneca-Cayuga Nation is proud to celebrate Erica Tremblay’s accomplishments in the film industry and her commitment to the wellbeing of Indigenous people and communities everywhere. Well Done, Erica!